Women With Atrial Fibrillation At Greater Risk Of Stroke Than Men

26 Feb Women With Atrial Fibrillation At Greater Risk Of Stroke Than Men

Posted at 21:05h in AHA Journals, Author Interviews, General Medicine, Heart Disease, Women's Heart Health by Marie Benz MD FAAD

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Gregory YH Lip MD, FRCP (London, Edinburgh, Glasgow), DFM, FACC, FESC
Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine,
Adjunct Professor of Cardiovascular Sciences,
Thrombosis Research Unit, Aalborg University, Denmark;
Aston Centre for Cardiovascular Sciences City Hospital Birmingham
England UK

Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?

Prof. Lip: Women with atrial fibrillation are at higher risk of stroke than men with atrial fibrillation.

The reasons for this elevated risk remain unclear.

The results from our worldwide study suggest that women are treated no differently to men in terms of anticoagulant therapy for stroke prevention.

Thromboprophylaxis was, however, suboptimal in substantial proportions of men and women, with underuse in those at moderate-to-high risk of stroke and overuse in those at low risk.

Medical Research: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?

Prof. Lip: Improvements in anticoagulation prescription and management are needed for women and men.

Medical Research: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Prof. Lip: Further research is needed to understand why women with atrial fibrillation are at higher risk of stroke than men with atrial fibrillation.

Citation:

Does Gender Affect Anticoagulant Use for Stroke Prevention in Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation? The Prospective Global Anticoagulant Registry in the FIELD-Atrial Fibrillation (GARFIELD-AF)